Advance Australia Fair: Gladys Berejiklian calls for change to anthem lyrics
A push to change one word in the national anthem in a bid to better recognise Indigenous history has received mixed reaction from federal politicians and Telegraph readers. SEE THE POLL RESULTS
NSW
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A push to change one word in the national anthem in a bid to better recognise Indigenous history supported by Premier Gladys Berejiklian has received mixed reaction from federal politicians and Telegraph readers.
Indigenous Australians Minister Ken Wyatt backed a push to change the anthem to declare “we are one and free,” rather than “young and free”.
Mr Wyatt said the proposed change removes the notion that Australia is a young country, a matter that has “troubled” many Indigenous people about the current anthem.
“What I like about Gladys is that she is committed to making a real difference to Indigenous Australians, And I would support her suggestion on this change,” he said.
However Nationals Senator Matt Canavan claimed the change would tarnish “our ancestors”.
“We are a young nation. We have old civilisations and we have a rich history over tens of thousands of years but we are a young country,” he told Nine.
“That is an unfortunate tarnishing of our forefathers and foremothers,” he said.
More than half of Telegraph readers supported changing the national anthem’s lyrics to “we are one and free”.
As at 2pm on Wednesday, 58 per cent of people replied “yes” to a Telegraph poll asking whether the lyrics of the anthem should be changed.
Forty-two per cent of people had replied “no”.
Ms Berejiklian told The Daily Telegraph she believed the change would “make such a difference” and called for a national discussion on the topic.
“I love our national anthem. I get goose bumps every time I hear it sung or played, but think one word change will make such a difference,” Ms Berejiklian said.
She pointed out the anthem had been changed in the past.
“As a very young schoolchild I remember learning “Australia’s sons let us rejoice”.
“Today we sing “Australians all let us rejoice”,” she said.
“Similarly I believe singing we are “one” and free rather than “young” and free will acknowledge our proud Indigenous history.
“There should be a national discussion on this involving all Australians including Indigenous Australians.”
She wants the anthem to be inclusive and has been mulling the issue for some time. Ms Berejiklian decided to speak out on the issue because she felt passionately about wanting to support Indigenous communities.
It was weighing on the Premier that she felt upset for people who didn’t feel included in the anthem, such as on sporting fields.
“I’m so proud of our first nations people and our Indigenous players – I don’t want them to feel they aren’t included. Dignity and respect goes a long way.”
The Premier’s own pride in her Armenian background, and knowing what it is like to feel injustice also informed her view.
“I’m incredibly proud of my heritage and know what it’s like to feel injustice,” she said.
“We’re all Australian and we all need to come together, no matter our background and heritage, that's what makes Australia and NSW what it is.”
She is conscious that others will have a different view – some will say it doesn’t go far enough, others will say it’s too radical – but felt the matter was important enough for her to take a stand on.
Indigenous advocate Warren Mundine also backs a change to the anthem, saying it was a step to unite the country.
“It’s about uniting people – that’s what the national anthem is about,” he said.
“This is not about bowing to radical elements – it’s a commonsense approach to bringing people together.”
Mr Mundine proposed going further and singing the second verse of the anthem in a local Aboriginal language.
Labor leader Jodi McKay said the Premier backing a one-word change to the national anthem was “fine”, but downplayed the move’s significance.
“But wouldn’t it be terrific if in Naidoc Week, Gladys Berejiklian committed to flying the Aboriginal flag permanently on the Harbour Bridge,” Ms McKay said.
Greens member David Shoebridge said the change delivers “nothing for First Nations people”.
“It does however distract from actual reform like self determination, land, ending the stolen generation and stopping police brutality,” he tweeted.
Federal Nationals Senator Matt Canavan slammed the proposal, claiming the change would tarnish “our ancestors”.
“I don’t think the writers of this anthem when they say “young” are intending any kind of offence here,” he told the Today Show.
“We are a young nation. We have old civilisations and we have a rich history over tens of thousands of years but we are a young country. As a country, as a concept of Australia.
“I think it is another example of people taking offence when there was no offence intended. That is an unfortunate tarnishing of our forefathers and foremothers.”
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